Jazz 86, Celtics 105

Game Highlights

Photo of the Game

Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins swallow up Ronnie Brewer under the basket as he tries to get off a layup attempt.
Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty

By Marc D'Amico
Celtics.com

Key Moment

Get used to hearing this one: the Boston Celtics put the game away in the third quarter. It's becoming old hat for this veteran team to take a sizeable lead into halftime and double it in the third quarter. Tonight was a prime example of that tendency holding true.

It was a 10-point advantage at halftime, but there was a feeling in the air that the Celtics were on the verge of opening this one up. When the third quarter began, the Garden crowd got exactly what they anticipated.

Paul Pierce kicked off the second half's scoring with a 3-pointer at the 11:40 mark and drilled another just 1:04 later. Then it was Ray Allen's turn to show off from the perimeter, as he hit back-to-back jumpers for the C's, one of which was a three, that put the Celtics ahead by 17. Rajon Rondo added a layup after a Pierce steal, and just 3:37 into the third quarter, the Celtics had nearly doubled their lead to 19 points.

Boston finished the period with a 22-point advantage, and there was no coming back from that deficit. Yet again, a third quarter push led the Celtics to a victory -- their league-leading eighth of the season.

Box Score Nuggets

• No player in the game took more than 14 field goal attempts.
• Bill Walker made his first appearance of the season, logging 2:07 of playing time.
• The Celtics had seven players finish in double-figures, led by Kevin Garnett's 18 points.
• Andrei Kirilenko grabbed four rebounds in the game, all of which came on the offensive end.
• Every Jazz player that entered the game scored at least four points.
• Boston made 16 of their 18 free throw attempts.
• The Celtics recorded 30 assists and only 15 turnovers, while Utah had 18 assists and 21 turnovers.
• Celtics starters combined to shoot 28-of-45 form the field, good for 62.2 percent.
• Boston did not trail at any point in the game.
• Rajon Rondo recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 assists.
• The Celtics limited Utah to only two fast break points on 0-of-2 shooting.

Quote of the Night

Deron Williams on his team's physicality compared to the Celtics': "We're soft. And there's no way around it. We're not playing tough at all. They were quick on loose balls, quick on the floor. They did what you have to do to win."